Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essay Example

Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essay Throughout The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a character with a strong impact on the audience. The response of the audience changes throughout the play, varying from pity to dislike. His Jewish background and persecution provide a case for the audience liking the character and giving him pity, whereas his obsessions with money and his desire to kill Antonio gives the audience a bad impression. The influence he has on the audience has varied over the years, from the Elizabethan times when he first appeared, who saw persecution of Jews everyday, to the modern audience who will dislike characters who are prejudiced. Shylock first appears in Act 1 Scene 1. For the audience, first impressions are vital. His first line when Bassanio offers him the bond is Three Thousand ducats well (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 1). To any audience this gives the impression that he is very concerned about money, especially when he repeats three thousand ducats throughout the scene. Throughout the scene, there is a repetition of the word three, e. g. three thousand ducats, three months, three thousand ducats for three months etc. This repletion not only emphasises Shylocks obsession with money (as he is still pondering over the bond) but also shows how numerically Shylock thinks. The obsession with money is a key part of his character and the first thing that the audience noticed. Shakespeare himself was interested in money and usances himself, he invested much of his money into his theatre, and his knowledge of that subject is reflected in Shylocks character We also learn from this scene the intelligence of Shylock. As soon as Bassanio propositions him, he considers the offer in his mind, and realises how he can get revenge on Antonio, e. . Antonio shall become bound well (line 5). Later on in the scene, Shylock shows his intelligence once again, when he tries to be friendly to Antonio to try and make him sign the bond, e. g. I would be friends with you, and have your love (Line 133). Shylock is a shrewd businessman. He is careful not to lend money out to people who he doesnt know, or people that he knows w ill not pay him back, e. g. My meaning in saying that he is a good man, is to have you understand that he is sufficient (Lines 13-14). We will write a custom essay sample on Shylock is an ambivalent portrait specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Shylock is an ambivalent portrait specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Shylock is an ambivalent portrait specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He disguises his sinister bond as a joke in hoping to persuade Antonio to seal the bond, when he does he knows that he can kill Antonio if he does not repay him. Shylock stalls with Bassanio not giving him a definite answer until Antonio arrives, this is because he wants to see Antonio and talk to him about his sinister bond. His stalling also gives him time to think his plan through. Shylock, being an orthodox Jew has considerable knowledge of the Bible. In this scene he uses his knowledge to benefit himself. He tells Antonio the story of Uncle Labans sheep and Jacob to justify why he should collect Interest. His interpretation of the story is completely different from the Antonios. Antonio believes that he twists the story to benefit himself. Antonio detests Shylock, he considers him a dog, and he does not agree with Shylock charging interest, i. e. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. Also In the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances. Still I have borne it with a patient shrug (Shylock). Much of an Elizabethan audience would have agreed with Antonio on this, as the majority of them would have been Christians. I hate him for he is a Christian illustrates the point that Shylock does not like any Christians. He hates Antonio especially, owing to the persecution he has received from him, e. g. You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine. Fair sir, you spit on me Wednesday last, you spurned me such a day, another time you called me a dog, and for these courtesies Ill lend you thus much moneys? Shylock has obviously been persecuted due to his Jewish heritage, and this would make the modern audience feel sorry for him. Due to the amount of persecution he has received, Shylock often attracts our sympathies so much that the reader often thinks of how he suffers outside of the play. This shows how deep his suffering must be. Most of the Elizabethan audience would be accustomed to seeing this sort of persecution, but still may not feel that it is right. As a result of his persecution, Shylock hates all Christians, although he obviously has knowledge of the Christian bible, as the Old Testament is part of the Jewish scriptures, e. g. to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. Shylock also considers Antonio a fawning publican; he compares him to a Jewish tax collector. Antonio also lends out money, but does not charge interest, which annoys Shylock, e. g. If you repay me not on such a day, in such a place, such sum or sums as are expressed in the condition, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in which part of the body pleaseth me. This shows that Shylock seeks revenge, and in some ways gives the audience the impression that he is evil. In fact he is partially breaking the Ten Commandments, (Thou Shalt not Kill, which he would do if Antonio forfeits his bond. ) Antonio is one of the main persecutors of Shylock, but it may not be because of his Jewish heritage that Antonio persecutes him. In the opening scene, Antonio tells us that he is sad and does not know why. When his friend Bassanio asks him to get the bond from Shylock, he has no hesitance about risking his life for it. This, and his general actions to Bassanio might suggest that he is actually in love with Bassanio, but he cannot do anything about it, especially with Portia around. This would explain the intensity of their relationship, and why Antonio is depressed. As a result, Antonio takes it out on Shylock, someone he knows he can get away with persecuting. The Elizabethan audience would consider Shylock a typical Jew. Jews were expelled from the country in 1290, and when many returned in the fifteen hundreds, they only had a limited number of jobs that they could do. Many decided to lend money for interest, as they were allowed to, and Christians were not. As this was all they could do, many had to be very money-tight; to make sure they never lost any money. Jews were always persecuted; many of the Christians hated them for it was them who killed Jesus Christ. Therefore, so far Shylock would appear to be a typical Jewish moneylender, whom many of them would not particularly like due to his money lending and their hate of Christians. As The Merchant of Venice was written in 1596-1597, much of the first audiences would have been aware of the recent execution of another Jew, Rodrigo Lopez in 1594. For many years he was well respected as the Queens physician until the Earl of Essex ruined him. He was hanged for treason. Lopez may have had a strong influence on Shakespeares writing about Jews, e. g. how a prominent man can be ruined because of his Jewish heritage. In Act 2 Scene 1, Jessica, Shylocks daughter says our house is hell, showing the audience that she perhaps considers him a bad father and a bad man. His servant, Launcelot Gobbo also considers him a devil. The people that Shylock sees most often have said negative things about him, so the audience will judge that he is not that a nice person. In Act 2 Scene 5, Shylock is on his way to a supper with the Christians. He is only going to annoy them; this shows the audience that he is not considerate. Shylock says I did dream of money bags tonight which shows how much he cares about his money. He also ensures that his house and daughter are safe from those Christian Fools, before he leaves e. g. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum and the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, clamber not you up to the casements then, not thrust your head into the street to gaze on Christian fools. He is very concerned about his money, but even more he is worried about his daughter seeing Christians, as he considers the Jews a tribe, and they need to marry within the tribe to keep it going, so he feels that she should marry a Jew, not a Christian. At the end of Act 2 Scene 6, Jessica not only leaves her father, but also takes many of his ducats with her and Lorenzo. Any audience would now give pity to Shylock as he has lost a daughter and a considerable sum of money. Jessicas last line before leaving is Farewell, and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost. The audience would not only give pity, but also perhaps see Shylock as a poor father, more concerned about the welfare of the Jewish culture than the happiness of his daughter. In Scene 8, Salerio and Solanio discuss Shylock. We yet again see the Christian persecution of Shylock, i. e. Villain Jew, which would influence the audience. Solanio also overheard Shylock earlier on, after he discovered the desertification of his daughter, e. g. My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian Ducats! From this it appears that Shylock is just as upset about his daughters betrayal as he is of the loss of his money, which again emphasises his obsession with money, and makes the audience think that he is not that caring of his daughter. He is so angry with her, he says she is dammed for it, but he still persists that she is completely different from the Christians there is more difference between thy flesh and hers than Jet and ivory. He still considers her a Jew who should not see Christians. The audience might see that he has a right to seek revenge after what Jessica did to her. In Act 3 Scene 1, we see Shylock giving reasons for why he should collect the forfeit if it is required, e. g. If it feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million. To the audience it would appear that Shylock is just bloodthirsty and cruel. An audience from an Elizabethan era would no doubt think that Jews were cruel anyway, as this was the prejudice that was around at the time. There were untrue stories of Jews being cruel, and of course stories from the bible such as King Herod (a Jew) killing all the babies in Bethlehem under two years. Certainly Jews have been played as cruel villains in other plays, such as Barabas, in The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe, who was based upon Joseph, Duke of Naxos (who was not a Jew). So many of the audience would already assume that Shylock was cruel and bloodthirsty. The Jews are described as the cursed race in this story. Shakespeare was without a doubt influenced by Marlowes play; Barabas, the Jew has a daughter who turns Christian during the play, so it is obvious that Shylock and Jessica were adapted from this play. Shylocks speech about the forfeit in this scene begins with To bait Fish with, after Salerios question if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh, whats that good for? Shylocks response to this question shows again that he is quick-witted and can retort to any comments he does not approve of. In Shylocks speech we hear again of his persecution, for example He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? An audience would feel sorry Shylock at this point and perhaps agree that it is fair for him to collect his forfeit. Shylock points out that If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge. Shylock points out that if he were a Christian and Antonio were a Jew, no one would have a problem with him collecting his forfeit. He illustrates the division between the rights of the Christians and the rights of the Jews. After this influential speech, much of the audience might agree with Shylock about his view of equality among Christians and Jews. The majority of an Elizabethan audience would still probably consider him evil due to the prejudice of the time. Shylocks image of being bloodthirsty reappears later on in the scene when his friend Tubal informs him of Antonios loss, and Shylocks response is I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, is it true? I thank thee good Tubal, good news, good news! Ha, ha! These lines would suggest that Shylock is cruel as he is so desperate for a chance to take the forfeit of off Antonio. This scene is the first scene in which we see another Jew, and at the end of the scene there is a reference to the local Synagogue. This tells everyone that the Jewish community has been well established, so this might a reason for the audience to feel less sorry for Shylock. Also the Jews must also have quite a bit of money if they have built their own Synagogue. In Act Three, Scene Three, Antonio has been arrested for not repaying the bond and is making one last plea to Shylock. Shylock is obsessed with revenge on his Christian persecutor, and will not forgive him or even listen to what Antonio has to say. All he wants is his bond, e. g. (Antonio) I pray thee hear me speak. (Shylock) Ill have my bond. I will not hear thee speak. Ill have my bond, and therefore speak no more. This scene once again emphasises to the audience the amount of murderous hatred that Shylock has, and also how difficult it is to change the law. Act Four Scene 1 sees the Duke of Venices first appearance. A good friend of Antonios, he describes Shylock as an inhuman wretch. Once again, the audience will be influenced by the feelings of another character. The rest of the characters see Shylock as an evil devil as he enters the courtroom. Much of the audience would not approve of him wanting to kill Antonio. Shylock retaliates to the remarks that he should not collect his bond, with his quick wittedness in the forms of another speech, in which he compares Antonio to a pig. In Antonios speech, he is still being racist against Shylock, saying a Jewish Heart; he does not once call him a man, always a Jew. Bassanio offers him six thousand ducats for the bond, but Shylock refuses. From what we already know about how greedy Shylock is about money, this seems very strange, showing how desperate he is to kill Antonio. Shylock gets more and more aggravated waiting for his bond to become legal, again showing how deep his wounds are from Antonio. Shylock calls Portia Daniel, referring to the Old Testament, where Daniel was a wise Judge. This again illustrates this knowledge of the bible, and how he considers this justice. Shylock shows no mercy and no forgiveness, which are two basic elements of Christianity; many of Antonios Christian friends expected Shylock to forgive Antonio. Shylock makes several powerful speeches throughout the play, the only character other than Portia to do so. He wins battles of words against Antonio many times, e. g. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my money and my usances. Still I have borne it with a patient shrug (Act One Scene Three). Also in Act Three Scene 1, To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me . These speeches show that Shylock is quick witted, able to retaliate with words and quite intelligent. The Merchant of Venice could be more described as a romantic comedy than a tragedy. Therefore you would perhaps not expect not to see an evil villain in it. The audience may not be expecting an evil character, so may not consider him a villain, but more of a victim. In many plays, especially ones which have Jews featured, there was an evil character (e. g. The Jew of Malta), so, the audience would be accustomed to this, so may picture Shylock as that evil character. Throughout the play, Shylock is compared to both Antonio and Portia. Whereas Antonio is seen simply as a typical example of mankind (who goes through different stages of emotions), and Portia as Wisdom, Shylock is seen for a lot of the time as the Devil. Throughout the play, there are numerous references to Shylock and the Devil, e. . The devil can cite scripture for his own purposes (Act One, Scene Three), The Jew is the very devil incarnation (Act Two Scene Two), lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. (Act Three Scene One) Shylocks response to Portia turning the case against him in Act Four Scene One is My deeds upon my head. This recalls the time when the Jews called for the execution of Christ, so this line again shows that he is a Christian hater. All of these references indicate to the audience that Shylock is similar to the devil, so many of them will accept his persecution and consider him a villain. This would have been the case especially in the Elizabethan era when all Jews were considered cruel. Throughout the years, Shylock has changed, in the way the actor portrays him and in the way the audience sees him. Up until the eighteenth century, he would have been seen as a slightly comical character, whose purpose is to be mocked. He then changed into the villain of the play, in one portrayal he was so sinister, grotesque and so ferocious a villain that after King George II watched it, he is reported to have had a sleepless night. He then was more portrayed as an injured man, followed by an outrageous father. Today a modern audience sees him as a persecuted man, who seeks revenge on those who wrong him. We also see him as a typical Jew, wanting to preserve his culture. Some people even consider him an Old Testament Prophet. In conclusion, Shylock appears to the audience as a tragic villain, a man who is obsessed with money, revenge on people who wrong him. There is a lot of emphasis on comparing him to the devil, which much of the audience would agree with. His persecution by the Christians gives him some pity but his humbling end leaves the impression of a broken man.

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Is it truly fair for a sex offender to get put back on the street rather than someone who just takes drugs to get on with their day? Id rather have the drug dealer walking around. The government or rather the President should start worrying about these issues as well as others here in the United States. If not, then what will happen to our country as time goes on if we dont start to pick up the peices of where we are falling apart the most....

A Study Of Using Cultura Project In Selected Universities In Saudi Essay

A Study Of Using Cultura Project In Selected Universities In Saudi Arabia And Australia - Essay Example With the progress of the Cultura methodology in the joint American and French educational institutions, there is an incredibly large potential for the Cultura project to be applied in other educational institutions wishing to be integrated as well. This system of integration can be used by other educational institutions separated by culture as an active classroom system where students are left with the task of learning something while teachers are on stand-by for monitoring purposes. It is with this progress that this paper is founded on. This paper revolves around the analysis of utilizing the Cultura method in joining two different cultures like Arabic and English to be applied with the same treatment. This undertaking will not only verify the effectiveness of Cultura methodology and generality of the findings of Furstenberg, Levet, English & Maillet (2001) but also contribute to the legacy of educational institutions towards cultural literacy. II. Statement of the Problem The study is aimed at determining the effectiveness of the Cultura Project in selected universities within Saudi Arabia and Australia. In addition, the study also aims to determine what would be the effect on cultural literacy and integration between Saudi and Australian schools when they are connected via the Cultura Project. The study would also focus on several facets of the socio-economic grid that are primary or secondary factors to the Cultura Project.

Development Of The New England Colonies - Colonial America Research Paper

Development Of The New England Colonies - Colonial America - Research Paper Example This third revolution was built on the fertile ground laid during the colonial period. Colonial economic development of the New England colonies, beginning in 1620, profoundly transformed the existing indigenous economy of gathering, hunting, fishing, and long fallow/polyculture farming (Merchant 1989). Europeans had already established a presence in the region for over a century as fur traders, essentially building upon the existing native economy. The trade did transform the economy by introducing new goods, new diseases, new religion, and intensifying the hunt for beaver and other small mammals. The New England colonists, however, introduced revolutionary change in the ecological and economic environment by introducing notions of private property, displacing the Native Americans, establishing farms and populous villages with a full rounded life, fully intending to make the land their new homes (unlike the transient fur trading posts largely made up of men), and engaging in several wars. However, the New England colonists were distinct not only from the Native Americans, but from the fur traders and their own countrymen to the South in the Chesapeake Bay colonies which, like the fur traders, were also largely skewed toward male settlement rather than families (cf. Merchant, 1989; Heyrman, 1991). The New England territories were rich in forests and fur trapping, with many harbors, but not in good farmland. Farms, accordingly, were small, mainly to provide food for individual families, with the inventories of most farmers showing five or six sheep and hogs, one or two horses, a few cattle, and several bushels of grain. The farmers were able to overcome the odds and create â€Å"comfortable abundance† for themselves (Merchant, 1989, p. 99). In whatever trade that existed, however, no particular cash crop, livestock, or commodity dominated. This caused the New England colonies to be perceived as less valuable to England, compared to Virginia or the West In dies (Newell, 1998). Much has been written about the settlers’ Puritan faith, their Calvinist work ethic, their moral discipline, their patriarchal nuclear family structure, and so forth, so that it has become part of the American foundation myth. By this foundation, it has been argued, New England avoided the kind of social disruption that unfettered commercial expansion and avarice had brought to plantation colonies in the Chesapeake and Caribbean (cf. Innes, 1995; Main, 2001). The New England economy during this period was relatively egalitarian, with each family being allotted an average of 150 acres. Spectacular wealth could not be created in these communities, which also meant that the economy did not produce the extreme inequalities found elsewhere (Heyrman, 1991). The Puritan settlers, however, lived on average nearly twice as long as Virginians and about ten years longer than men and women in England. New England also had relatively low rates of infant mortality. Whi le the people of Europe and the Chesapeake colonies barely reproduced themselves, the number of New Englanders doubled about every 27 years; a typical family raised seven or eight children to maturity (Bremer, 1995). While some products of the inland towns such as potash made market journeys profitable and others such as cattle could be driven to market, most products were too heavy and bulky

Apartheid in South Africa Essay Example for Free

Apartheid in South Africa Essay The Apartheid legislation was a system of governance that made a huge impact in South Africa in the 20th century. It was introduced by the national party after they were elected in the 1948 election. It was a form of segregation that discriminated against the races in South Africa. It was the law in South Africa for 46 years. The Apartheid sparked lots of internal resistance with violent riots and protests taking place by groups of people. Nelson Mandela was a leading force in the opposition on Apartheid and did everything in his powers to destroy it. His voice was heard all over the country when he was the leader of Anti Apartheid movements and when he was in jail. Apartheid Legislation had a detrimental impact on society in South Africa. It was pioneered in 1948 by the newly appointed national party of South Africa when they came to power. The struggle for the end of Apartheid was long lived as it lasted until 1994 when the National party lost the election. Apartheid was the segregation of the South African people into different race groups such coloured, white, Asian and Indian. Residential areas were segregated as well as Education, medi-care, beaches, and other public areas. Although the residential areas and other public facilities were separated, the quality of living for the blacks was substantially less than that of which the whites enjoyed. Sports in South Africa were also majorly affected as South Africa was banned from some international sports such as cricket. Women weren’t left out of the equation as they struggled to gain proper rights and freedoms as most of the men experienced. Black people or natives, over time, were deprived of their citizenships and forced to live in tribes with their own people away from the city. Numerous laws were made that affected the black people immensely and stripped them of their rights and freedoms. Apartheid struck society hugely at the time of its induction and changed the way life was lived. Many factors contributed to the severity of Apartheid, no more so than the new laws that were created shortly after its introduction. These laws were made to discriminate directly against the blacks of South Africa and create white supremacy. As a result of these laws many black people in the community struggled for basic rights and freedoms. The first powerful law to be created was the  Preservation of Separate Amenities Act 1953. This law separated all parts of society from blacks and whites. The separation wasn’t equal and as a result of this the black people got the inferior side of every facility. This was the separation of every aspect of society from beaches and parks to toilets and shops. The main aim was to exclude citizens from Premises, vehicles or services based on their race. The best facilities were reserved for the white people. Education was not spared as another law was made (Bantu Education Act 1951) that restricted black children from receiving the same education as the white children. The government at the time thought that the career opportunities for black kids were limited and they were best to learn skills that would help their families in their tribes. As of that day, the black children received a substantially lower level of education than the white children of South Africa. The government spent six times as much money on white education which only made up about 20% of the country at that time. Nelson Mandela valued Education so highly in his views and once said that â€Å"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. [1] Both of these laws helped to create a large gap in society between the black and white people, one being very much better off than the other. Apartheid in South Africa aimed to strip the black people of all their rights and freedoms. This was achieved by two controversial laws. The Abolition of passes act 1953 and the Bantu Homeland act 1952. The abolition of passes act forced black people to carry identifica tion with them at all times. A pass included a photograph, details of place of origin, employment record, tax payments, and encounters with the police. It was a criminal offence to not be carrying a pass when encountered by a police officer. Africans were frequently harassed for their passes and countless numbers were arrested for it. Local citizens burned them or didn’t carry them as a sign of protest. Mass protests by blacks by not carrying their passes lead to the murder of 69 in the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’. The Bantu Homeland act was the second law that took everything away from the blacks. Through this law, the white government declares that the lands reserved for black Africans are independent nations therefore, not being a part of South Africa. In this way, the government was able to strip millions of blacks of their South African citizenship and force them to become residents of their new homelands. Blacks were then considered foreigners in white-controlled South Africa, and needed passports to enter. Blacks only entered to perform jobs that assisted whites. The law was made to ensure that the White people of South Africa would inhabit most of the main areas of the country leaving the Blacks to live on the outskirts in shocking conditions. A quote by an influential student leader Steve Bantu Biko The blacks are tired of standing at the touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing. They want to do things for themselves and all by themselves. [2] suggests that the blacks were sick of having no place in society and want their own rights and freedoms which was the obvious feeling at the time. This law is a huge violation of human rights and really emphasised the affects of the new government regime at the time. The Anti Apartheid movements were influential movements that fought for the destruction of Apartheid legislation in South Africa. They were a worldwide movement that aimed to abolish South Africa’s government system of Racial Apartheid. The anti Apartheid movement came into action both within and outside South Africa. The ANC was the first movement to be created. A second organization Split from the ANC and called themselves the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). They used civil disobedience, strikes and protest marches to oppose the apartheid legislation. After the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’, when police opened fire and killed 69 protestors, the direction of the movement changed. The ANC decided to adopt armed resistance against the state. This sparked many protestors to speak out. Both Organisations were banned after this Massacre and it forced them to move into hiding and continue their operations in private. They created an armed military wing ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’ lead by Nelson Mandela and planned attacks on the state. After their first attack, their leader Mandela was sent to jail for life along with a few other leaders. At the trail to his sentence Mandela he said We are not anti-white, we are against white supremacy †¦ we have condemned racialism no matter by whom it is professed. [3]This quote shows that Mandela wasn’t racist and just wanted quality and proper human rights. Many bouts of protest broke out in South Africa after the massacre and trial, mostly by school students, and groups were made to speak out against the Apartheid legislation. The movement were starting to gain momentum and there voices were being heard further around the world. The Anti Apartheid movements were the cor nerstone to the destruction of Apartheid legislation. The movements are the reason for the popularity loss of Apartheid and the rise of Nelson Mandela as a civil rights activist. The Arrests and killing of influential members of the movement only sparked up a bigger, more aggressive reaction and more people wanted to get involved in the cause. The black conscientious movement was made by black tertiary students in 1971 and represented black pride. This idea of black pride empowered many South Africans to believe that they are a strong people and can fight for their rights. Students in Soweto in 1979 rose up against Apartheid inspired by many around them. While in protest 29 were killed and many injured by police opening fire. This sparked more and more people to rise up against the state. Labour unions played a massive role in the struggle against apartheid. In 1979 as a result of the protesting, black trade unions were legalized which was a massive win. At the same time church groups also spoke out against the evils of Apartheid. All of these people were inspired by the actions of the Anti Apartheid movements that went before them. Thabo Mbeki a South African Politian summed up the views of many South Africans at the time by saying â€Å"South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black or white. [4] This view was felt across the country by the struggling black people. The ANC and PAC affected most of the population of South Africa in some way and help get rid of the Apartheid legislation. They were the cause for the changes that took place in society over the years. Nelson Mandela played arguably the biggest role in the destruction of the Apartheid legislation in South Africa. Working with the ANC he S poke out against Apartheid and the injustice to his people. Mandela worked hard as the leader of the ANC and planned many protests on the state to help push for the abolishment of Apartheid. He was one of the most influential speakers of his time and many oppressed people heard his voice loud and clear. Under apartheid Mandela served nearly 27 years in prison but he never gave up the fight. When Mandela was imprisoned at Robben Island he continued his work and teachings. In South Africa and around the world, Nelson Mandelas anti-apartheid messages gained in popularity. This meant that his voice was heard by more and more people. Many tried to free him when he was in jail. Support for Mandela was so immense that he was able to be equitted of his charges and released in 1990. Before he was released the PM of South Africa at the time said As soon as he renounces violence and undertakes not to start violence in South Africa, government will release him. [5]The quotes suggest that the government did not want any further violence from his demonstrations in the near future otherwise he would be kept in jail and if he showed no signs of violence he would be let out. This shows trust between the two. He was able to become the leader of the ANC once again and was a leading force in South Africa. He was able to negotiate a multi-racial election in 1994 where his party won. He became prime minister and with this he abolished Apartheid legislation. In his Inaugural speech as prime minister he says â€Å"Today we are entering a new era for our country and our people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa†[6]. This optimism really highlighted his attitude towards life and freedom and is why he was such a loved and influential leader. Without his voice throughout the country and the world, South Africa would have struggled to get out the Government legislation that was Apartheid Apartheid legislation in South Africa was immensely influential on society. It was one of the worst legislations to ever be put down by a government. The black community of South Africa was severely affected by this legislation with most of their rights and freedoms stripped off them. As a result of the laws and other factors, the majority of the native South Africans lived a lift without the freedom and rights that most enjoy today. Nelson Mandela with the help of the Anti Apartheid organisations pushed to stop the legislation in its tracks. He was eventually successful with his peruse of freedom and because of this he is one of the most influential men to have ever lived.

Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion Essay examples -- English

Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion Commentary The poem â€Å"Night of the Scorpion†, written by Nissin Ezekiel has an interesting contrast of good and bad hidden within it (an essence of equality). The poet has made the mother’s experience of getting bitten by a scorpion sound very painful and endless. The poet has conveyed this by using some descriptive language. E.g. â€Å"May the poison purify your flesh of desire, and your spirit of ambition†. This poem which was written by the first person, has other techniques such as; alliteration – â€Å"I watched the flame feeding on my mother†; tone of voice (short sentences giving a tense atmosphere) – â€Å"My father, sceptic, rationalist, trying every excuse and blessing†. In addition, the narrator gives the impression that everyone was concerned about his mother getting bitten. â€Å"More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours†¦ They sat around the floor with my mother in the centre†. From this passage, it seems that everyone trying to support her and getting rid of the pain that the horrible sting had caused. Although, ...

Literacy: Mrs. Fleming Essay

There are few fundamental skills in life that are of greater importance than the ability to read and understand the written word. It can take a person of any background as far as they can dream. This is truly evident in the essay, â€Å"Superman and Me†, by Sherman Alexie which tells of the author’s struggle growing up poor on a Native American reservation in Washington State. From a young age, his literacy became Alexie’s saving grace, thanks to his father who inspired him to begin reading. This inspiration changed the path of his life. I, too, was inspired and encouraged at a young age to be a great reader by my Mother and a special teacher. I am thankful to my Mother for starting me on my path to literacy. I grew up in a house full of books, music and loud women. My Mom was never without a book in her hand, my middle sister loved to sing and write poetry and my oldest sister always had her eight tracks blaring. From the time that I was tiny, I wanted to be just like my Mother. She had beautiful hair, perfect makeup, and lovely flowing dresses. Since I was too young for these things, I latched on to something else that my mother loved; books. Alexie felt much the same way about his Father. Alexie writes, â€Å"My father loved books and since I loved my father with an aching devotion, I decided to love books as well† (89). My Mother and I spent many hours roaming the library aisles for our next great read. She encouraged me to try new authors and different genres. I discovered Judy Blume and even attempted Charles Dickens and Louisa Mae Alcott. My Mom challenged me each summer to read as many books as I could and she was always ready for me to tell her all about them. Mama and I still recommend books to one another and tell each other all about the characters that we meet in between the pages of our latest book. I was fortunate enough to have many fantastic teachers during my school years. One teacher In particular is my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Fleming. I was a twelve year old girl that felt awkward and self-conscience and Mrs. Fleming always found a way to boost my self-confidence. She made  it a point to compliment me every day on anything from how I read aloud in class or what I was wearing or my hair style. Mrs. Fleming’s interest in me built up my self-esteem by leaps and bounds. We also bonded over our mutual love of books. Mrs. Fleming would take the time to ask about a book I was reading and recommend others that she thought I might like. She found ways to let me know that she loved that I was so excited about reading even if it was just a sweet smile that seemed like it was just for me. Mrs. Fleming made me feel special. As an adult, I have, on occasion, run in to Mrs. Fleming and even after all these years she still remembers me as her little bookworm. I am thankful to have had the support and encouragement throughout my life to keep me reading and learning. It continues today as I show my children how fun and entertaining it can be to read a good book I love to read with my girls and the sound of their voice reading on their own is like music to my ears. As I continue my education I hope that they can see through me that a love of reading can take you anywhere you want to go. So dream big†¦and go read a book!